U.S. patent application number 13/813442 was filed with the patent office on 2013-11-07 for broadband antenna and radio base station system for process-ing at least two frequency bands or radio standards in a radio communications system.
This patent application is currently assigned to NOKIA SIEMENS NETWORKS OY. The applicant listed for this patent is Lucia Agnes Hofmann, Wilhelm Hermann Hofmann. Invention is credited to Martin Goldberg, Elmar Guha, Andree Haubrich, Helmut Heinz, Ralf Dieter Hofmann, Risto Kaarlo Saukkonen.
Application Number | 20130294302 13/813442 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45558954 |
Filed Date | 2013-11-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130294302 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hofmann; Ralf Dieter ; et
al. |
November 7, 2013 |
Broadband Antenna and Radio Base Station System for Process-ing at
Least Two Frequency Bands or Radio Standards in a Radio
Communications System
Abstract
The present invention refers to a broadband antenna configured
for processing at least two frequency bands or radio standards in a
radio communications system, the broadband antenna including at
least one column, the column including at least one antenna
element, a first phase shifter configured for phase shifting a
first frequency band or radio standard and a second phase shifter
configured for phase shifting a second frequency band or radio
standard, and a diplexer configured for diplexing the phase shifted
first and second frequency bands or radio standards, including two
inputs and one output, with the first phase shifter and the second
phase shifter being coupled to the two inputs, and the antenna
element being coupled to the output. The invention further refers
to a radio base station system including a broadband antenna
according to the invention.
Inventors: |
Hofmann; Ralf Dieter;
(Heidenheim, DE) ; Goldberg; Martin; (Greifenberg,
DE) ; Guha; Elmar; (Ulm-Lehr, DE) ; Haubrich;
Andree; (Blaubeuren, DE) ; Heinz; Helmut;
(Turkheim, DE) ; Saukkonen; Risto Kaarlo; (Oulu,
FI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hofmann; Wilhelm Hermann
Hofmann; Lucia Agnes |
Heidenheim an der Brenz |
|
US
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
NOKIA SIEMENS NETWORKS OY
ESPOO
FI
|
Family ID: |
45558954 |
Appl. No.: |
13/813442 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
August 1, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP11/63191 |
371 Date: |
July 11, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/297 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01Q 5/50 20150115; H01Q
1/246 20130101; H01Q 5/307 20150115; H01Q 21/30 20130101; H04L 5/08
20130101; H01Q 3/30 20130101; H01Q 25/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/297 |
International
Class: |
H04L 5/08 20060101
H04L005/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 4, 2010 |
CN |
201010246605.0 |
Aug 4, 2010 |
CN |
201020283170.2 |
Claims
1. Broadband antenna configured for processing at least two
frequency bands in a radio communications sys-tern, the broadband
antenna comprising at least one column, the column comprising at
least one antenna element; a first phase shifter configured for
phase shifting a first frequency band and a second phase shifter
configured for phase shifting a second frequency band; a diplexer
configured for diplexing the phase shifted first and second
frequency bands, comprising a first input, a second input, and one
output, wherein the first phase shifter is coupled to the first
input, the second phase shifter is coupled to the second input, and
the antenna element is coupled to the output.
2. Broadband antenna according to claim 1, wherein the antenna
element is a polarized antenna element, and wherein each frequency
band comprises a first polarization direction and a second
polarization direction, and wherein said first phase shifter is a
dual phase shifter configured for phase shifting the first
polarization direction and the second polarization direction of the
first frequency band; said second phase shifter is a dual phase
shifter configured for phase shifting the first polarization
direction and the second polarization direction of the second
frequency band; and wherein said diplexer is a dual diplexer,
comprising two single diplexers, each single diplexer comprising a
first input, a second input, and one output, wherein the first
phase shifter is coupled to the first inputs, the second phase
shifter is coupled to the second inputs, and the antenna element is
coupled to the outputs.
3. Broadband antenna configured for processing at least two radio
standards in a radio communications system, the broadband antenna
comprising at least one column, the column comprising at least one
antenna element; a first phase shifter configured for phase
shifting a first radio standard and a second phase shifter
configured for phase shifting a second radio standard; a diplexer
configured for diplexing the phase shifted first and second radio
standards, comprising a first input, a second input, and one
output, wherein the first phase shifter is coupled to the first
input, the second phase shifter is coupled to the second input, and
the antenna element is coupled to the output.
4. Broadband antenna according to claim 3, wherein the antenna
element is a polarized antenna element, and wherein each radio
standard comprises a first polarization direction and a second
polarization direction, and wherein said first phase shifter is a
dual phase shifter configured for phase shifting the first
polarization direction and the second polarization direction of the
first radio standard; said second phase shifter is a dual phase
shifter configured for phase shifting the first polarization
direction and the second polarization direction of the second radio
standard; and wherein said diplexer is a dual diplexer, comprising
two single diplexers, each single diplexer comprising a first
input, a second input and one output, wherein the first phase
shifter is coupled to the first inputs, the second phase shifter is
coupled to the second inputs, and the antenna element is coupled to
the outputs.
5. Broadband antenna according to claim 1, wherein said diplexer is
a printed circuit board diplexer.
6. Broadband antenna according to any preceding claim claim 1, the
broadband antenna further comprising a printed wiring board, said
printed wiring board comprising said printed circuit board
diplexer.
7. Broadband antenna according to claim 1, the broadband antenna
further comprising a housing, said housing comprising the antenna
element, the first and second phase shifters, and the diplexer.
8. Radio base station system, comprising a broadband antenna
according to claim 1.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to processing at least two
frequency bands or radio standards in a radio communications
system. Particularly, the present invention refers to a broadband
antenna configured to perform said processing at least two
frequency bands or radio standards in a radio communications
system, and an according radio base station system comprising a
broadband antenna configured to perform said processing at least
two frequency bands or radio standards in a radio communications
system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Mobile radio base station antennas represent the radio
frequency (RF) access points in a radio communications system,
realizing the connection to mobile phones via the air interface.
While generally, in a radio communications system, different
frequency bands are used by the locally available wireless radio
standards, it is desired that mobile radio base station antennas
are optimized to the relevant frequency band or radio standard to
provide good RF properties. Furthermore, the optimum vertical
electrical tilt of the antenna beam, achieved by phase shifting of
the signal, depends on the actual frequency band and radio standard
used for radio transmissions by the respective antenna. For mobile
radio base station sites with many different frequency bands and/or
radio standards, the amount of required antennas today is high, and
it is often not possible to mount all antennas to one antenna site
due to site engineering, legal or commercial constraints. With the
introduction of new radio standards and release of new frequency
bands, this situation will even become worse.
[0003] To reduce the number of required antennas, broadband
antennas have been introduced recently. They support a large
bandwidth and therefore cover different frequency bands or radio
standards within one antenna. However, known broadband antennas
only provide means to adjust one common vertical tilt for the whole
antenna which has the negative effect that frequency band radio
standard optimized tilting cannot be assured. If different tilting
is required, separate antennas dedicated to every standard are
required.
[0004] Thus, there is still a need for improved mobile radio base
station antennas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Object of the present invention is to provide an improved
broadband antenna and radio base station system for processing at
least two frequency bands or radio standards in a radio
communications system, which overcome the above mentioned
problems.
[0006] This object is achieved by a broadband antenna comprising
features according to claims 1 and 3, and a radio base station
comprising features according to claim 6.
[0007] Further embodiments of the present invention are provided
with the corresponding dependent claims.
[0008] The object of the present invention is achieved by a
broadband antenna configured for processing at least two frequency
bands in a radio communications system, the broadband antenna
comprising at least one column. The column comprises at least one
antenna element, a first phase shifter configured for phase
shifting a first frequency band and a second phase shifter
configured for phase shifting a second frequency band, and a
diplexer configured for diplexing the phase shifted first and
second frequency bands, comprising a first input, a second input,
and one output. The first phase shifter is coupled to the first
input, the second phase shifter is coupled to the second input, and
the antenna element is coupled to the output.
[0009] According to embodiments of the present invention, the
antenna element is a polarized antenna element, and each frequency
band comprises a first polarization direction and a second
polarization direction. Furthermore, said first phase shifter is a
dual phase shifter configured for phase shifting the first
polarization direction and the second polarization direction of the
first frequency band, and said second phase shifter is a dual phase
shifter configured for phase shifting the first polarization
direction and the second polarization direction of the second
frequency band. The diplexer is a dual diplexer, comprising two
single diplexers, each single diplexer comprising a first input, a
second input, and one output. The first phase shifter is coupled to
the first inputs, the second phase shifter is coupled to the second
inputs, and the antenna element is coupled to the outputs.
[0010] The object of the present invention is also achieved by a
broadband antenna configured for processing at least two radio
standards in a radio communications system, the broadband antenna
comprising at least one column. The column comprises at least one
antenna element, a first phase shifter configured for phase
shifting a first radio standard and a second phase shifter
configured for phase shifting a second radio standard, and a
diplexer configured for diplexing the phase shifted first and
second radio standards, comprising a first input, a second input,
and one output. The first phase shifter is coupled to the first
input, the second phase shifter is coupled to the second input, and
the antenna element is coupled to the output.
[0011] According to embodiments of the present invention, the
antenna element is a polarized antenna element, and each radio
standard comprises a first polarization direction and a second
polarization direction. Furthermore, said first phase shifter is a
dual phase shifter configured for phase shifting the first
polarization direction and the second polarization direction of the
first radio standard, and said second phase shifter is a dual phase
shifter configured for phase shifting the first polarization
direction and the second polarization direction of the second radio
standard. The diplexer is a dual diplexer, comprising two single
diplexers, each single diplexer comprising a first input, a second
input, and one output. The first phase shifter is coupled to the
first inputs, the second phase shifter is coupled to the second
inputs, and the antenna element is coupled to the outputs.
[0012] According to embodiments of the present invention, the
diplexer is a printed circuit board diplexer.
[0013] According to further embodiments of the present invention,
the broadband antenna further comprises a printed wiring board,
said printed wiring board comprising said printed circuit board
diplexer.
[0014] According to further embodiments of the present invention,
the broadband antenna further comprises a housing, said housing
comprising the antenna element, the first and second phase
shifters, and the diplexer.
[0015] The object of the present invention is also achieved by a
radio base station system, comprising a broadband antenna according
to the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The present invention will be more clearly understood from
the following description of the preferred embodiments of the
invention read in conjunction with the attached drawings, in
which:
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a broadband antenna according to some
embodiments of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 shows a broadband antenna according to some
embodiments of the present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 3 shows a radio base station system according to some
embodiments of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a broadband antenna according to some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0021] The broadband antenna 10 is configured for processing two
frequency bands 12, 13 in a radio communications system. However,
the same principle can be applied also for three or more frequency
bands or radio standards. The broadband antenna 10 shown in FIG. 1
comprises one column 101. The column 101 comprises an antenna
element 1011. While, for reasons of simplicity, the example antenna
shown in FIG. 1 has only one column and one antenna element, it
should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention
also works for more than one column and more than one antenna
element comprised in each column.
[0022] The broadband antenna 10 comprises a housing 11. The housing
11 comprises the antenna element 1011, the first and second phase
shifters 1012, 1013, and the diplexer 1014.
[0023] The broadband antenna 10 further comprises a first phase
shifter 1012 configured for phase shifting a first frequency band
12 and a second phase shifter 1013 configured for phase shifting a
second frequency band 13.
[0024] Furthermore, the broadband antenna 10 comprises a diplexer
1014 configured for diplexing the phase shifted first and second
frequency bands. The diplexer 1014 comprises a first input 10141, a
second input 10142, and one output 10143, wherein the first phase
shifter 1012 is coupled to the first input 10141, the second phase
shifter 1013 is coupled to the second input 10142, and the antenna
element 1011 is coupled to the output 10143.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows a broadband antenna 10 according to some
embodiments of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 2 shows
an example embodiment regarding a solution for a broadband antenna
10 comprising four columns 101, 102, 103, 104, supporting two
frequency bands. In the shown embodiment, the first frequency band
12 is a TD-LTE frequency band on 2.6 GHz, and the second frequency
band 13 is a TD-SCDMA frequency band on 1.9-2.0 GHz. However, any
combination of frequency bands and/or radio standards is possible,
e.g.
[0026] GSM as radio standard, and two frequency bands, one band
tilted with a first, lower angle, and a second band tilted with a
second, higher angle, for covering different cell areas;
[0027] GSM as a first radio standard, LTE as a second radio
standard, but the same frequency band; or
[0028] GSM as a first radio standard, LTE as a second radio
standard, and two frequency bands, one band tilted with a first,
lower angle, and a second band tilted with a second, higher angle,
for covering different cell areas.
[0029] As stated above, the invention is not restricted to four
columns broadband antennas, but is also applicable for one column
and more columns broadband antennas.
[0030] As in the case of the example shown in FIG. 2, typically two
polarization directions are transmitted per column 101, 102, 103,
104, and therefore cross polarized antenna elements 1011, or
radiators, are used.
[0031] The main elements for the band independent vertical tilting
are the phase shifters 1012, 1013 and the diplexers 1014 between
phase shifters 1012, 1013 and antenna elements 1011. The phase
shifters 1012, 1013 are controlled either electro-mechanically,
e.g. by motors, in particular stepper motors, or fully
electronically. The phase shifters 1012, 1013 are part of a RF
feeder network which terminates on the one side at the antenna
connector of the antenna 10 and on the other side at the diplexers
1014/antenna elements 1011. For each polarization direction per
column 101, 102, 103, 104 and frequency band 12, 13, one phase
shifter 1012, 1013 is required. In FIG. 2, for simplicity reasons,
only a first phase shifter 1012 and a second phase shifter 1013 are
shown. However, it is clear for the person skilled in the art that
for the situation depicted in FIG. 2, two first phase shifters 1012
and two second phase shifters 1013 are necessary, due to the two
polarization directions of the frequency bands 12, 13. In some
cases the same phase shift can be used for both polarization
directions, and in this case only one first phase shifter and one
second phase shifter are required.
[0032] For simplicity reasons, in FIG. 2 the diplexer inputs 10141,
10142 and output 10143 are omitted.
[0033] One diplexer 1014 is required for each polarization
direction per column 101, 102, 103, 104 and antenna element
1011/antenna element group 1011 (all antenna elements within this
group are fed with the same RF signal regarding amplitude and
phase).
[0034] According to some embodiments of the invention, one motor
controls the phase shifters 1012, 1013 of one frequency band 12,
13.
[0035] According to further embodiments of the invention, one motor
controls the phase shifter 1012, 1013 of one polarization direction
of one frequency band 12, 13 and thus enables polarization
independent tilting per band.
[0036] According to some embodiments of the invention, the
diplexers 1014 are implemented as printed circuits on the antenna
printed wiring board (PWB), so that no external diplexers are
required and the volume and/or weight of the antenna will be
optimized.
[0037] FIG. 3 shows a radio base station system 30, comprising a
broadband antenna 10 according to the present invention.
[0038] The invention proposes a solution which allows frequency
band independent tilt adjustment of at least two frequency bands or
radio standards and thus enables more compact site engineering and
less boxes at the antenna mast/tower pole.
[0039] In particular, if the broadband antenna supports two
different radio standards on two different frequency bands, the
invention allows to tilt a first radio standard A to get a larger
coverage, and to tilt a second radio standard B for capacity
optimization.
[0040] While embodiments and applications of this invention have
been shown and described above, it should be apparent to those
skilled in the art, that many more modifications (than mentioned
above) are possible without departing from the inventive concept
described herein. The invention, therefore, is not restricted
except in the spirit of the appending claims. Therefore, it is
intended that the foregoing detailed description should be regarded
as illustrative rather than limiting.
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
[0041] GSM Global System for Mobile communication [0042] LTE Long
Term Evolution [0043] PWB Printed Wiring Board [0044] RF Radio
Frequency [0045] TD-LTE Time Division LTE [0046] TD-SCDMA Time
Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access
LIST OF REFERENCES
[0046] [0047] 10 broadband antenna [0048] 11 housing [0049] 12
first frequency band [0050] 13 second frequency band [0051] 101,
102, [0052] 103, 104 column [0053] 1011 antenna element [0054] 1012
first phase shifter [0055] 1013 second phase shifter [0056] 1014
diplexer [0057] 10141 diplexer input [0058] 10142 diplexer input
[0059] 10143 diplexer output [0060] 30 radio base station
system
* * * * *